Lowry, Salford and Family

 I love Lowry paintings so when I saw this cross stitch kit I knew I had to stitch it. This is one of his most famous paintings 'Coming From the Mill'. I would love to stitch another of his paintings though perhaps with fewer people. He is famous for his paintings of mills and working class life and lots of people.

 Last year here was a great movie about his life. He was a rent collector by day and lived with his mother in Salford. There is a song I love about him very popular in the 1970's named Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats And Dogs. It is on YouTube.

 Edward VII and Alexandra made a visit to Salford in 1905 and there is the hanky to prove it. On the left is a notebook I bought online from Salford Galleries, just had to have that to match my sampler. I missed the movie of Peterloo last year and haven't watched my DVD yet. Peterloo happened in 1819 and was called after the battle of Waterloo. There was a rally in St Peter's field Manchester to demand political reform against rising poverty. British govt. forces charged into a crowd of over 60,000 killing and injuring many and sparking a nation wide outcry.

 This is the house in Salford my in-laws left in 1912 to come to Sydney. They had 6 children the youngest a boy of a few weeks old. They named the baby Sydney because that's where they were going to start a new life.  Sydney became my father in-law.Their eldest daughter Flo  was 14 years old and already working in a cotton mill. This pic was taken in about 1973 when Mr Linens was on a business trip in he area. The house has long gone now for slum clearance and Salford has become a very expensive area.

Top photo shows Sydney and 2 of his brothers in 1942. After celebrating Sydney's 30th birthday a bit too much they all went off to join the army. After fighting in the Middle East and New Guinea they all returned home safely.
Final photo shows Martha and Joseph celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in Sydney. 2 more sons were born in Australia making a total of 6 sons and 2 daughters so the Diamond Anniversary was a huge affair.